No one likes to drink Pepto-Bismol.

This blog post by Donald Miller keeps emerging on my news feed and in conversations so I figured I should actually invest some time in reading and studying it. If anything just for the sake of my social life. I need all the help I can get in that dusty corner of my existence.

[Side bar: I have a writer’s crush on Donald Miller. When I think of the artists and craftsmen and women who’ve influenced my work the most over the years, he unequivocally remains my biggest inspiration. I was fortunate enough to attend his life-changing, convicting Storyline conference a couple years ago in Portland and had the chance to share a few words with him. I was fangirling hard. You should check him and the Storyline brand out here.]

Speaking of news feeds and conversations, here’s a light topic: is anyone else getting genuinely offended by the controversial Planned Parenthood viral videos circulating? Obviously as a human being I’m offended that these kind of actions are taking place with fetuses, er, babies (sorry, that pro-choice bitch comes out of at the most inappropriate times). The behaviors recorded are savage-like and unfeeling… apparently.

I haven’t actually seen any of them.

An acquaintance on Facebook recently posted her thoughts on this. She wrote something to the effect of “…as a woman who’s had miscarriages, graphic abortion videos/photos are very disturbing and emotionally heart wrenching…”

I understand people are infuriated with these kinds of horrors, as I guess they should be. Maybe if I indulged myself in the awe-inducing gore of one of said videos I’d be a converted, fervent pro-lifer who’s new social media goal would be to destroy Planned Parenthood, one share at a time.

Somehow (and forgive me, truly, if this sounds crass and is offensive) the concepts of the Donald Miller article I read earlier and this whole Planned Parenthood mess seem similar to me. And I almost cringe while writing that because I recognize that’s a pretty grand accusation. I know people are trying to bring justice to these fetuses, er, babies (damn it!) and I applaud their convictions and solidarity. But am I the only one who rolls their eyes when a justice awareness topic comes to light and becomes thrust to the forefront of the general Christian agenda? I get annoyed, clearly.

To me, it almost hints at being an attention issue; and that’s taking the easy way out. It’s the Hollywood thing to do; gore and destruction, hysteria and awe, sex and gluttony. I feel like it’s using shock value to spark that moral match in people and that seems just as, if not more, offensive than the inhumane acts themselves. The way I see it, being a victim and being a whistle-blower to moral injustices are married by the tiny, oft-ignored whisperer of insensitivity. There’s a grossly problematic lack of empathy regarding this specific absolute (sorry) bullshit of viral media. Maybe if we started intelligently and seriously discussing the atrocities Planned Parenthood allegedly commits instead of brashly using a bullhorn to showcase these acts for stunned audiences and hungry eyes, the goal would be reached. Or not. I don’t know. Maybe it is working. All I know is that, for me, it’s all reminiscent of shameless propaganda. It disgusts me personally and only makes my indifference grow… just for spite’s sake.

Bringing public attention to injustices is a beautiful facet of humanity and I love being in such a diverse, rich culture of different interests and concerns. But this whole situation leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth. Anyone who’s ever taken Pepto-Bismol knows that disgusting aftertaste takes swigs and swigs of water to erase. I feel like oceans wouldn’t erase this Planned Parenthood aftertaste for me.

I can’t remember the first time I heard the phrase “hurt people hurt people” but it impacted me tremendously. I know I heard it multiple times during my churched days. It became one of those phrases that pastors and speakers declared like a prophecy and it was habitually followed with a conveniently placed long pause creating a crowd of convictions. It’s so on point though. I think, if anything, it’s more evidence that people long to feel connected…. no matter the cost or circumstances. And I think that same concept can be translated to this whole frenzy.

Think about those who’ve suffered miscarriages and lost pregnancies. Think about the women who may’ve had abortions in the past who deeply regret those decisions now. Let’s bring awareness to these, yes, absolutely repulsive behaviors going on behind closed doors. Please, let’s bring awareness, but let’s do so tastefully, gracefully and with mercy towards those who’s spirits have been wounded by similar experiences.

Can we please quit passing the Pepto-Bismol? That’s all I’ll say on that.